Getting refer from other vendors
 

hello everybody,
I was thinking of this and I don't know is this can be a good idea.
I was planning on contacting other vendors, specialist planners and offer them a commission for every costumer that book with me refer by them and the higher the packages the higher the commission . Commission will be paid after the client make full payment and no cancelation.
I think that will be a good way to have vendor refer clients to me, because I have try it other ways and no luck. I'm being doing this for two year and is hard to get your name out there.

thanks for any comments or suggestions

If you're going that route, I would suggest to have a set commission rate rather than dependent to the packages. It would save you time,money and headache of over complicate things.

My 2 cents

I try that on the beginning and no luck. The problem is, if I have a fixed commission, then they don't care if the costumer book for the lowers or higher price. now I have a fixed commission for each package, that way they promote the higher prices, you know what I mean. It can go the other way too, maybe they just promote the higher price and never talk about the lowers one, but I prefer that way. I have to take that risk. I won't lost anything. What I'm trying to do is make the other vendor as my sale person in a way that they won't notices. that why my main target will be the wedding planner, most of them look for vendors for the wedding and most of the time they are the first one that couple contact for getting everything ready.

I looked at the very same thing a few years ago and found out that most vendors (especially wedding planners) are vultures!!!! That wanted at least 40% commission and are not the slightest bit loyal to you either!! If some new videographer comes along and offers them 50% then they simply forget you!!!

I have a friend who has a distribution centre for gifts and silk flowers and deals a lot with wedding planners....he confirmed to me that their "favour" to you getting business is nothing short of wicked and advised me NOT to go thru any vendor.

By all means work with vendors but I would keep away from the commission side of things..just a simple referral is enough...they recommend you and you recommend them!!

In order to keep the vendor on your side you will need to pay them enough so they think it's worthwhile to find you business...which will means your prices will be a lot higher!!

Chris

We have wedding shows locally. Of course tie ups are nice. So far, I have a few photographer tie ups and we do not work on commission. However its a small market here so we go that way.

Over here in the UK its a bit different. There are a few venues which will add you to their list for about £2000 but they recommend you because you pay. This is bad for the couple as they dont get a decent service half the time.

We recommend suppliers and they recommend us because of the quality of our work. If were booked we send the couples to another videographer (just the one) because hes damn good and our styles are similar (different in many ways but the quality is all there).

Look around, im sure there are plenty of people willing to recommend you because your services compliment their own rather than you being the highest bidder.

The best way in my experience is to refer them clients along the way with no strings attached, I have a DJ, flower shop & make up artist in my network, we help each other and we don't expect commission. We are in scratch my back, I'll scratch yours relationship.

I'm more into this approach..

I always get vendor's business card when we worked on the same wedding. When I am done, I sent them a copy of the DVD. That's a good way to start networking. Say like, I succesfully create good relationship with DJs, wedding planner, makeup artist. When they meet with clients, they will show my DVD to the clients, hence promoting my work. I referred vendors my customers, and they refer theirs to me. No commission evolved. Win-win.

I do have one planner asked for 10% to 20% commission for whoever he referred me. I don't take his lead and I don't refer him business too.

A small but valid point is : Don't expect a vendor to recommend you, unless he has seen your work. If you feel that someone can get you business make sure that he/she is not put in an awkward situation if you happen to foul up the job. If I recommend a videographer to a couple and he does a lousy job the couple will probably blame me!! It's a lot safer to leave a copy of your demo DVD with any vendor who might get you business and then they can simply say " I know this videographer, here is his demo DVD...you take it from here"

If someone asks me if I know any good photographers I just give them my friend's details and tell them "Yes, I have worked with him..he's a nice guy but you will have to talk to him and see samples of his work before deciding whether he's worth hiring"

Chris

I go along with most as far as giving a vendor a commish. I have a number of vendors listed on my site both people and places that I have worked with over the years that I trust and they know me well enough to know I give good work.
We all work on a reciprical basis, scratch my back and I'll break your hand....Not really but you all know what I mean ;-)